Wave guide antenna horn

ABSTRACT

5. An antenna horn for a radar-controlled device comprising a streamlined body having surfaces defining an aperture extending through said body, a composite wave guide disposed in the aperture in said body, said composite wave guide having a straight section and a curved section with an end portion of each section secured together in coaxial alignment, means in one of said sections for modifying electro-magnetic waves passing therethrough, said surfaces of said body being shaped to support one end of the composite wave guide against lateral movement, and means for securing the other end of said composite wave guide to said body against movement in any direction.

United States Patent 1 Feeney WAVE GUIDE ANTENNA HORN [75] inventor:John D. Feeney, St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Western Electric Company,

Incorporated, New York, N.Y.

22 Filed: Sept. 27, 1957 21 1 Appl. No.: 687,597

[52] US. Cl. 343/705; 343/772; 343/887 [5]] Int. Cl. H01Q 1/28 [58]Field of Search 343/786, 705, 708, 887,

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,420 7/1952 Jaffe343/784 X Primary Examiner-Malcolm F. l-lubier July 1,1975

Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Berger Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A. C.Schwarz, Jr.

EXEMPLARY CLAIM 5. An antenna horn for a radar-controlled devicecomprising a streamlined body having surfaces defining an apertureextending through said body, a composite wave guide disposed in theaperture in said body, said composite wave guide having a straightsection and a curved section with an end portion of each section securedtogether in coaxial alignment, means in one of said sections formodifying electro-magnetic waves passing therethrough, said surfaces ofsaid body being shaped to support one end of the composite wave guideagainst lateral movement, and means for securing the other end of saidcomposite wave guide to said body against movement in any direction.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SHEU PATENTEUJUL 1 m/vzwrm? J. D. FEE/VF)ilillliiiiiiiin a ll/ll!!!" ATTORNEY WAVE GUIDE ANTENNA HORN Thisinvention relates to wave guide antenna horns for high velocity radarcontrolled devices and more particularly to antenna horns having waveguides with filters therein.

An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna horn havinga sectional wave guide to facilitate the fabrication thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an antenna horn having acomposite wave guide with a component thereof comprising a filter forpassing a predetermined signal, and to a method of making same.

With these and other objects in view, the invention contemplates castinga metal antenna horn body having a streamlined contour, a flat base faceengageable with a device to which it is to be attached, and a taperingaperture therethrough which is disposed obliquely relative to the baseface for receiving a composite wave guide therein. The composite waveguide comprises a straight tubular section for receiving signals and abent tubular elbow section bonded thereto for changing the direction ofthe signals, the straight section having a plurality of centrallyapertured discs bonded to the interior thereof in a predeterminedaxially spaced relation to each other to form a filter for passing aselected signal, and the elbow section having a flanged positioningsleeve telescoped over and bonded to one end thereof. The elbow end ofthe composite wave guide with the flanged sleeve thereon is placed in aconforming aperture in an annular mounting flange, and the horn body istelescoped over the wave guide into engagement with the positioningsleeve and the mounting flange, after which the mounting flange issecured to the horn body to securely clamp the wave guide to the hornbody in a predetermined assembled relation thereto.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following detailed description thereof and theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. I is a top view of the antennahorn;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the antenna horn with a portion thereof shownin section showing the composite wave guide positioned therein;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the antenna horn;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the antenna horn;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the composite waveguide of the antenna horn with portions of the antenna horn shown indotted lines;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the filter component of thecomposite wave guide; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the filter component shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the antenna horn 10 comprises a cast metalhorn body 12 which has a substantially flat base face 14, a streamlinedouter surface 16 starting from a forward pointed end 18, and atransversely and rearwardly directed aperture 20 therethrough whichintersects and is disposed obliquely to the base face 14 for receiving acomposite wave guide 22 therein. The aperture 20 tapers from an enlargedend 23 at the base face to a perdetermined size at the small end 24 toprovide clearance for free movement of the wave guide 22 thereinto andto provide an annular surface at the small end of the aperture 20 forengaging and firmly supporting one end of the wave guide in fixedrelation to the horn body.

The wave guide 22, which is made from metal tubing having a uniforminner diameter, comprises a straight section 26 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and acurved elbow section 28. One end of the straight section 26 isexternally rabbetted at 30 (FIG. 5) and one end of the elbow section 28is internally rabbetted at 31 for telescoping engagement and coaxialalignment with each other.

The straight section 26 has a plurality of centrally apertured discs oririses 33, 34, 35 brazed thereto transversely of the axis thereof inparallel and predetermined axially spaced relation to each other to forma filter for passing a selected signal therethrough. Because the waveguide section 26 is straight, the discs 33, 34 and 35 may be brazedthereto in a precise predetermined ralation to each other. The elbowsection 28 of the wave guide has a curved intermediate portion and astraight end portion 38 over which straight portion a positioning sleeve39 is telescoped and brazed thereto at 40. A flange 41 on one end of themounting sleeve has an end face 42 engageable with the base face 14 ofthe horn body 10 as an aid in locating the composite wave guide 22 in apredetermined precise position on the horn body.

After the positioning sleeve 39 has been assembled and brazed to theelbow section 28 of the wave guide, three holes are drilled radiallythrough the sleeve 39 and the end portion 38 of the elbow section inpredetermined precisely located positions below the flange 41. Threepolarizing pins 43 are then pressed into the holes with the ends of thepins extending into the wave guide a predetermined distance foreffecting a predetermined change in the electrical characteristics ofthe signal passing through the wave guide. Prior to the assembling ofthe positioning sleeve 39 onto the end portion 38 of the elbow component28 the end portion 38 is slotted to receive a flat resistor 44. Afterthe positioning sleeve 39 has been assembled and brazed to the elbowsection 28 of the wave guide, and after the pins 43 have been pressedinto position on the elbow section, the straight filter section 26 isassembled onto the elbow section 28 and brazed thereto at 45 (FIG. 5),and the resistor 44 is then assembled in the slotted end portion 38 ofthe composite wave guide and secured thereto by a pair of set screws 44ain the sleeve 39.

The end portion of the wave guide with the sleeve 39 thereon is thenplaced in a conforming seat or aperture in an annular mounting bracketor flange 46 which has a flat shoulder 47 for supporting the flange 4]and has an upper face 48 flush with the end face 42 of the sleeve 39.The lower portion of the mounting flange 46 is provided with an annulargroove 55 for receiving a choke ring. The horn body 12 is thentelescoped over the wave guide 22 into assembled relation therewith asshown in FIG. 2 and with the base face I4 of the horn body in engagementwith portions of the flat faces 48 and 42 of the mounting flange 56 andsleeve 39, respectively, and with the sleeve 39 and the end portion 38of the wave guide extending from the flat face l4 of the horn body in adirection substantially perpendicular thereto. The other end of the waveguide is firmly supported against lateral movement in the small end 24of the aperture 22 in the horn body 12. Two screws 49 are then driveninto aligned apertures 50 and 51 in the mounting flange 46 and the hornbody 12 respectively, to secure the mounting flange 46 and the compositewave guide 22 to the horn body in a predetermined relation thereto.

The mounting flange 46 has a plurality of mounting holes 52 (FIGS. 1 and3) for receiving fastening screws therein by means of which the antennahorn may be secured to a device with the flat base face 14 of the casthorn body in engagement with the device and the mounting flange 46seated in a recess therein. if, after testing the assembled wave guideand horn, it has been determined that the pins 43 are not properlypositioned, the screws 49 and the mounting flange 46 are removed and theselected pin or pins 43 are forced by a suitable device forwardly orrearwardly as required to reposition the pins in the precise positiondesired.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a sturdy antennahorn with wave guide and filter is provided in which the components arerigidly secured together in precise relation to each other, and thatwith this design of the antenna horn, a method of fabrication may bepracticed wherein the filter forming discs may be precisely located inpredetermined positions within the wave guide, the wave guide preciselyand securely positioned within the cast horn body, and the polarizingpins readily adjusted to meet critical electrical requirements.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of this invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna horn for a radar controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough obliquely from the flat face, a composite tubularwave guide disposed in the aperture in the body and with an end portionprojecting from the body in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe flat face thereof, said composite wave guide including an elbowcomponent and a straight component, said straight component having aplurality of transversely disposed centrally apertured discs securedtherein in predetermined axially spaced ralation to each other, saidelbow component being curved intermediate its ends and having straightend portions disposed obliquely to each other and with one end bonded toone end of the straight component, and means engageable with theprojecting end portion of the composite wave guide for securing it tothe body.

2. An antenna horn for a radar controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough obliquely to and tapering from the flat face, atubular wave guide having relatively long straight first end portion anda curved intermediate portion disposed within the aperture in the bodyand having a relatively short straight second end portion projectingfrom the body substantially perpendicular to the flat face, said body atthe small end of the tapering aperture engaging the first end portion ofthe wave guide and securely supporting it against lateral movement, anannular member telescoped over and bonded to the projecting end of thewave guide and engaging the flat face of the body for locating thesecond end of the wave guide in a predetermined position on the hornbody, said annular member and said projecting end of the wave guidehaving predetermined common radially disposed apertures therein,polarizing pins frictionally and adjustably supported in the saidapertures and projecting into the wave guide, an apertured mountingflange telescoped over the end of the annular member and the projectingend portion of the wave guide and engaging the flat face of the hornbody for holding the wave guide in position on the horn body, and meansfor fastening the mounting flange to the horn body to secure the waveguide to the horn body.

3. An antenna horn for a radar controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough obliquely to and tapering from the flat face, acomposite tubular wave guide disposed in the aperture in the body andwith an end portion firmly supported by the body in the end of the saidaperture and with the other end portion of the wave guide projectingfrom the body substantially perpendicular to the flat face thereof, saidcomposite wave guide including an elbow component and a straightcomponent, said straight component having a plurality of transverselydisposed centrally apertured discs secured therein in predeterminedaxially spaced relation to each other, said elbow component being curvedintermediate its ends and having straight end portions disposedobliquely to each other and with one end thereof bonded to one end ofthe straight component and with the other end thereof forming theprojecting end of the wave guide, a sleeve telescoped over and securedto the projecting end of the wave guide for engaging the flat face ofthe body, a plurality of pins, said telescoped portions of the sleeveand the wave guide having apertures for adjustably supporting the pinswith portions thereof disposed radially within the wave guide, anapertured mounting member telescoped over the sleeve and engaging theflat face of the body for supporting the projecting end of the waveguide, and means for removably securing the mounting member to the bodyand against the flat face to secure the composite wave guide to thebody.

4. An antenna horn for a radar controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough obliquely to and tapering from the flat face, acomposite tubular wave guide disposed in the aperture in the body andwith an end portion firmly supported by the body in the small end of thetapered aperture and with the other end of the wave guide projectingfrom the body substantially perpendicular to the flat face thereof, saidcomposite wave guide including a tubular elbow component and a tubularstraight component with rabbeted ends telescoped and bonded together incoaxial alignment, said straight component having a plurality oftransversely disposed centrally apertured discs secured therein inpredetermined axially spaced relation to each other, said elbowcomponent being curved intermediate its ends and having straight endportions disposed obliquely to each other and with one of the endsthereof forming the said projecting end portion of the wave guide, asleeve secured to the projecting end of the wave guide and having aflange engaging the flat face of the body, an apertured mounting membertelescoped over the sleeve and engaging the flat face of the body forsupporting the projecting end of the wave guide, and means for fasteningthe mounting ember to the body for securing the composite wave g ide tothe body.

5. An antenna horn for a radar-controlled device comprising astreamlined body having surfaces defining an aperture extending throughsaid body, a composite wave guide disposed in the aperture in said body,said composite wave guide having a straight section and a curved sectionwith an end portion of each section secured together in coaxialalignment, means in one of said sections for modifying electro-magneticwaves passing therethrough, said surfaces of said body being shaped tosupport one end of the composite wave guide against lateral movement,therethrough, and means for securing the other end of said compositewave guide to said body against movement in any direction.

6. An antenna horn for a radar-controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough transversely of said flat face, a composite waveguide extending through said body in said aperture, said wave guidehaving a straight section and a curved section with an end portion ofeach section bonded together in coaxial alignment, means in saidstraight section for modifying electro-magnetic waves passingtherethrough, means in said curved section for modifyingelectro-magnetic waves passing therethrough and means for securing thecomposite wave guide to said body.

7. An antenna horn for a radar-controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a face adapted to be juxtaposed with said deviceand having surfaces defining an aperture extending through the bodytransversely of said face. a composite wave guide extending through saidbody in said aperture, said composite wave guide having a straightsection and a curved section with an end portion ofeach section bondedto each other in coaxial alignment, means in said straight section formodifying electro-magnetic waves passing therethrough, means in saidcurved section for modifying electro-magnetic waves passingtherethrough, said surfaces of the body engaging the straight section ofthe wave guide to support one end of said composite wave guide, andmeans engaging the curved section adjacent said face of the body forsecuring the composite wave guide to said body.

1. An antenna horn for a radar controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough obliquely from the flat face, a composite tubularwave guide disposed in the aperture in the body and with an end portionprojecting from the body in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe flat face thereof, said composite wave guide including an elbowcomponent and a straight component, said straight component having aplurality of transversely disposed centrally apertured discs securedtherein in predetermined axially spaced ralation to each other, saidelbow component being curved intermediate its ends and having straightend portions disposed obliquely to each other and with one end bonded toone end of the straight component, and means engageable with theprojecting end portion of the composite wave guide for securing it tothe body.
 2. An antenna horn for a radar controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough obliquely to and tapering from the flat face, atubular wave guide having relatively long straight first end portion anda curved intermediate portion disposed within the aperture in the bodyand having a relatively short straight second end portion projectingfrom the body substantially perpendicular to the flat face, said body atthe small end of the tapering aperture engaging the first end portion ofthe wave guide and securely supporting it against lateral movement, anannular member telescoped over and bonded to the projecting end of thewave guide and engaging the flat face of the body for locating thesecond end of the wave guide in a predetermined position on the hornbody, said annular member and said projecting end of the wave guidehaving predetermined common radially disposed apertures therein,polarizing pins frictionally and adjustably supported in the saidapertures and projecting into the wave guide, an apertured mountingflange telescoped over the end of the annular member and the projectingend portion of the wave guide and engaging the flat face of the hornbody for holding the wave guide in position on the horn body, and meansfor fastening the mounting flange to the horn body to secure the waveguide to the horn body.
 3. An antenna horn for a radar controlled devicecomprising a streamlined body having a substantially flat face and anaperture extending therethrough obliquely to and tapering from the flatface, a composite tubular wave guide disposed in the aperture in thebody and with an end portion firmly supported by the body in the end ofthe said aperture and with the other end portion of the wave guideprojecting from the body substantially perpendicular to the flat facethereof, said composite wave guide including an elbow component and astraight component, said straight component having a plurality oftransversely disposed centrally apertured discs secured therein inpredetermined axially spaced relation to each other, said elbowcomponent being curved intermediate its ends and having straight endportions disposed obliquely to each other and with one end thereofbonded to one end of the straight component and with the other endthereof forming the projecting end of the wave guide, a sleevetelescoped over and secured to the projecting end of the wave guide forengaging the flat face of the body, a plurality of pins, said telescopedportions of the sleeve and the wave guide having apertures foradjustably supporting the pins with portions thereof disposed radiallywithin the wave guide, an apertured mounting member telescoped over thesleeve and engaging the flat face of the body for supporting theprojecting end of the wave guide, and means for removably securing themountingg member to the body and against the flat face to secure thecomposite wave guide to the body.
 4. An antenna horn for a radarcontrolled device comprising a streamlined body having a substantiallyflat face and an aperture extending therethrough obliquely to andtapering from the flat face, a composite tubular wave guide disposed inthe aperture in the body and with an end portion firmly supported by thebody in the small end of the tapered aperture and with the other end ofthe wave guide projecting from the body substantially perpendicular tothe flat face thereof, said composite wave guide including a tubularelbow component and a tubular straight component with rabbeted endstelescoped and bonded together in coaxial alignment, said straightcomponent having a plurality of transversely disposed centrallyapertured discs secured therein in predetermined axially spaced relationto each other, said elbow component being curved intermediate its endsand having straight end portions disposed obliquely to each other andwith one of the ends thereof forming the said projecting end portion ofthe wave guide, a sleeve secured to the projecting end of the wave guideand having a flange engaging the flat face of the body, an aperturedmounting member telescoped over the sleeve and engaging the flat face ofthe body for supporting the projecting end of the wave guide, and meansfor fastening the mounting member to the body for securing the compositewave guide to the bodyy.
 5. An antenna horn for a radar-controlleddevice comprising a streamlined body having surfaces defining anaperture extending through said body, a composite wave guide disposed inthe aperture in said body, said composite wave guide having a straightsection and a curved section with an end portion of each section securedtogether in coaxial alignment, means in one of said sections formodifying electro-magnetic waves passing therethrough, said surfaces ofsaid body being shaped to support one end of the composite wave guideagainst lateral movement, therethrough, and means for securing the otherend of said composite wave guide to said body against movement in anydirection.
 6. An antenna horn for a radar-controlled device comprising astreamlined body having a substantially flat face and an apertureextending therethrough transversely of said flat face, a composite waveguide extending through said body in said aperture, said wave guidehaving a straight section and a curved section with an end portion ofeach section bonded together in coaxial alignment, means in saidstraight section for modifying electro-magnetic waves passingtherethrough, means in said curved section for modifyingelectro-magnetic waves passing therethrough, and means for securing thecomposite wave guide to said body.
 7. An antenna horn for aradar-controlled device comprising a streamlined body having a faceadapted to be juxtaposed with said device and having surfaces definingan aperture extending through the body transversely of said face, acomposite wave guide extending through said body in said aperture, saidcomposite wave guide having a straight section and a curved section withan end portion of each section bonded to each other in coaxialalignment, means in said straight section for modifying electro-magneticwaves passing therethrough, means in said curved section for modifyingelectro-magnetic waves passing therethrough, said surfaces of the bodyengaging the straight section of the wave guide to support one end ofsaid composite wave guide, and means engaging the curved sectionadjacent said face of the body for securing the composite wave guide tosaid body.